Archive for John Brown

Of course, we have our Draft Analyzer here at STARTERS, which cranks out custom cheat sheets using an industry-leading predictive algorithm. However, I also provide my personal redraft and dynasty rankings outside of the Analyzer rankings, just to give all you fantasy fanatics another list to look at. Use them all, you can never get enough info to mix together! Below are both the updated dynasty and redraft links!

NOTE: Due to endless requests for it, I have added a tiering system to both sets of rankings!

SMITTY: It looks like it’s a sprained ACL and considered out indefinitely. As we said earlier, we don’t think he will be back this season, at least during the fantasy football season. The Cards might have him available at some point in the playoffs, but Stanton is considered very questionable for anything near 1-2 weeks time. Stay tuned on this one. Looking for Week 15 Power Rankings?

PREVIOUS UPDATE: If Drew Stanton can’t go in Week 16, and we feel he is likely done for the season, the team will turn to one of Logan Thomas or Ryan Lindley. It’s tough to say which passer will get the nod in Week 16, but since Lindley was shoved into the line-up in Week 15, you have to think he’s got the momentum heading into Week 16. Neither is a super-strong option, which makes both Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd tough options to count on here in Weeks 16 and 17 coming up. No passing game, mixed with a tough rushing schedule moving forward (starting with Seattle next week), makes the very talented Kerwynn Williams tough to count on as well. Looking for Week 15 Power Rankings?

SMITTY: This will be an interesting game, but hopefully it isn’t super-low scoring. Tre Mason will have tough running ahead of him, but is still a strong flex play this week. Larry Fitzgerald (probable) and Michael Floyd (and John Brown) are all risky plays given their inconsistency and given how dominant that Rams defense has been the last two weeks. Kerwynn Williams is a risky play, but decent flex. He could get most of the carries in this one, but it’s always a risk playing a ‘hot hand’ type player. Arians loves this kid, though.Looking for Week 15 Power Rankings?

SMITTY: Getting Stanton cleared for Week 6 is solid news for the Cards, and it makes us think that the team will hold Carson Palmer (shoulder/nerve) out one more week just to be certain they can get him as healthy as possible before he commands the offense again. As for the Larry Fitzgerald for Tom Brady trade rumors, there is a speculative piece out by Sports World Report, nothing confirmed, but it’s an interesting move, something I’d love to see go down. The Cards have John Brown ready for an expanded role, and frankly the team doesn’t use Fitz properly. The defense is the Cardinals’ foundation, they would instantly be a bigger threat with Brady under center (despite his horrible play as of late – A new environment might help him remain top 5-6 capable for 1-2 more seasons). Again, this is merely speculation at this point, but interesting speculation for sure. Checkout where we have all those Cardinals receivers ranked on our Week 6 Power Rankings now that Stanton is at least going to be under center this week. Stay tuned for more updates on Palmer, as he could still play this week. We expect a big day for Andre Ellington in the Cards’ Week 6 battle against the Redskins. Of course, that Cards defense is an excellent play in this one!

SMITTY: Keep in mind that he threw last Tuesday as well, but had a setback with the nerve in his shoulder. This is a great sign, and an earlier report on Sunday said that Palmer had a ‘breakthrough’, so this sounds positive. Getting him back in the line-up would boost values for all three of Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Ellington (who still has top 5-10RB upside with a potent offense behind him). Stay tuned on this one! Looking for Week 6 Power Rankings?

SMITTY: UPDATE: The second opinion is suggesting that Palmer not have surgery and to just continue rehabbing the injury. While this is good news in some ways, it’s hard to imagine Palmer playing Week 5, so expect Drew Stanton to start, and all of the below regarding how it affects the Cardinal players still applies.

SMITTY: This is not a good sign regarding his Week 5 eligibility. However, some sources are still calling him 50/50 to play Week 5. I myself think it’s time to start preparing for yet another Drew Stanton start, and while he is serviceable for the Cards and their road to winning, owners of Andre Ellington, Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, and even John Brown, can’t catch a break here. Palmer out of that line-up knocks all these guys down a good tier in terms of fantasy value. Hopefully the team leans on Ellington in Week 5, and hopefully his Week 4 bye got his foot closer to healthy. Looking for Week 5 Power Rankings?

SMITTY: This is great news for everyone from Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald owners, straight down to Andre Ellington owners, as Ellington will now likely be a week healthier with that foot, and will now have open rushing lanes. Of course, keep real-time tabs on this topic by signing up for Smart Alerts. Looking for Week 4 Power Rankings?

According to Josh Weinfuss on Twitter, Cardinals GM Steve Keim said this about rookie WR John Brown: “I can tell you so far we haven’t been able to cover him.”

SMITTY: This has to be the fourth or fifth time we’ve received raving reviews on this youngster, as Bruce Arians molds him into his Cardinal version of TY Hilton. John Brown runs a 4.34 and has some really-strong dynasty value right now, but it’s hard to imagine him being consistent in 2014 given that both Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald could be set to pull in 1,000 yards and double-digit scores.

It’s late July, so it’s time to reevaluate the 2014 Fantasy Football Rookies. Below is a one-player taste of our Premium 2014 Rookie Rankings with Analysis, so if you aren’t a 2014 STARTERS Subscriber, get access right after you read this sample (who is #5 on our Rookie Rankings)… after you read this, there are 11 more rookie write-ups just like it waiting for you, along with a complete ranking of my top 50 rookies… here we go!

5. Jordan Matthews | PHI WR

Date: 7/24/14

This 2014 rookie receiving class is just flat-out phenomenal, as we are talking about the 4th receiver ranked, and this receiver can be a fantasy WR1 if he develops properly. Jordan Matthews is 6-3, 212 pounds, but he plays like he is 6-5, 225 pounds. He has a long reach and has phenomenal spacial awareness. View this exact play right here to see what I mean… if you watched that play, you should have noticed not only Matthews’ timing pulling in the reception, but his innate ability to use his body to defend the area around the football. It’s an instinct most players don’t develop until their second or third NFL season, but Matthews has a natural instinct to use his body to position the defender where he wants the defender. It’s masterful if you take the time to watch him in acton. Like Brandin Cooks, Matthews couldn’t have landed in a more potent offense. And, in Matthews’ case, the Eagles are in need of a big-time possession receiver, and it appears Chip Kelly is going to immediately lean on the rookie. Don’t be surprised if Matthews makes a strong case for Rookie of the Year in 2014! It wouldn’t be shocking if the guy pulled in 55-60 receptions for 900-1000 yards and 6-7 scores as a rookie. The rookie receiver position is changing, and these guys are maturing much faster than they use to.

According to Gil Brandt on Twitter, Cardinals rookie WR John Brown will workout with Carson Palmer in San Diego. Brandt also tweeted, “Cards think he’ll be special player. Very high on him.”

SMITTY: The Cardinals, as well as sources close to the team, continue to talk-up John Brown. Coach Bruce Arians has compared his new receiver to previous students Antonio Brown and TY Hilton. While I think he has tremendous long-term appeal, it’s hard to imagine Brown having a big statistical campaign this year with both Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd likely pulling in 80/1000+/7TDs+ type stat lines. Also, keep in mind Andre Ellington should pull down 40+ receptions in 2014, so Brown will have to fight to even earn the typical rookie receiver stat line, which is roughly 40 receptions for 560 yards and about 4TDs. An injury to either Fitz or Floyd would certainly change the situation, though, so know that. Since we don’t know what will happen in AZ between now and when Brown enters his third NFL season, the year most receivers breakout, his dynasty value remains quite intriguing. Getting ready for your fantasy football draft? Get to using our Draft Analyzer!